The threats of the Mormon God

[_Scottie]

Tals thread hit on something interesting that I would like to expand on.

Christian religions are religions built on fear. "Do what God tells you or else suffer the consequences".

I believe all of the Christian religions have some form of "hell" that you will suffer eternally if you don't obey.

The Mormon religion seems to be unique in two areas.

First, temporal punishments for not obeying are quite common.

As I mentioned on the the other thread, I lived in sheer terror of the vengeful and jealous God of the Bible, who would have no problem what-so-ever ripping all of my Earthly possessions away if I were to doubt Him or His church. Breaking temple covenants was a sure fire way to end up homeless and begging for food, if not a paraplegic.

Often times, doubts about God would creep into my head. My main question was why am I any more special to think that MY version of God was more right than the trillions of other humans that have lived on Earth, each with their version of God. They believed just as deeply that THEIR God was the correct one.

When these doubts would creep in, I would have to push them back to the furthest reaches of my mind and beg for forgiveness. I didn't want God to break my arm, or burn my house down.

Second, there is a new punishment. That of separation from you family.

There are a LOT of exit stories on RfM and similar places where immense strain was placed on the family when one spouse left the church. Why? Because the other spouse was terrified of not being together as a family in the afterlife. I don't know of anyone in the Mormon religion that actually worries about the kingdom the apostate will be stuck in. It's always, "He is destroying his eternal family!" I think that Joseph Smith lucked into this binding aspect of Mormonism.

It's interesting to me that I never questioned Mormonism. It was only God that I questioned. Yet, ultimately, when I finally found out about Joseph Smith polygamy, it opened the door to allow me to question Mormonism and down came God, Joseph and all.

[_The Nehor]

I think I would go mad (okay, madder) if I tried to live the Gospel out of fear. It sounds very tiring.

I prefer loving God and wanting to be closer to him.

[_Scottie]

I think I would go mad (okay, madder) if I tried to live the Gospel out of fear. It sounds very tiring.

I prefer loving God and wanting to be closer to him.

Not all of us have had the luxury of speaking with God face to face, so we are left with the images of the cruel and intolerant God of the Bible.

[_The Nehor]

I think I would go mad (okay, madder) if I tried to live the Gospel out of fear. It sounds very tiring.

I prefer loving God and wanting to be closer to him.

Not all of us have had the luxury of speaking with God face to face, so we are left with the images of the cruel and intolerant God of the Bible.

Cruel, no. Intolerant, in some ways yes. Omniscience means you can know you're right and don't have to accept opposing (and incorrect) ideas as being as valid as yours.

My God in action: http://www.thebricktestament.com/king_d ... 11p14.html

[_ludwigm]

I think I would go mad (okay, madder) if I tried to live the Gospel out of fear. It sounds very tiring.
I prefer loving God and wanting to be closer to him.

Not all of us have had the luxury of speaking with God face to face, so we are left with the images of the cruel and intolerant God of the Bible.

Cruel, no. Intolerant, in some ways yes. Omniscience means you can know you're right and don't have to accept opposing (and incorrect) ideas as being as valid as yours.
My God in action: http://www.thebricktestament.com/king_d ... 11p14.html

Cruel, yes. Intolerant in every/many way, yes.

Apparently many of his/her/its action came from the time when he/she/it was before, as man is. But we don't stress it. Or we don't teach it. Or whatever.
Omniscienting - one of his/her/its nonexisting and/or self-conflicting attribute.

Here is a psalm inspired by Your God:

Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.

Our five "little ones" are all older than 30. In the next generation we have many really little who are eligible to dash against ...

I don't want to destroy my day with citing more.

[_The Nehor]

I think I would go mad (okay, madder) if I tried to live the Gospel out of fear. It sounds very tiring.
I prefer loving God and wanting to be closer to him.

Not all of us have had the luxury of speaking with God face to face, so we are left with the images of the cruel and intolerant God of the Bible.

Cruel, no. Intolerant, in some ways yes. Omniscience means you can know you're right and don't have to accept opposing (and incorrect) ideas as being as valid as yours.
My God in action: http://www.thebricktestament.com/king_d ... 11p14.html

Cruel, yes. Intolerant in every/many way, yes.

Apparently many of his/her/its action came from the time when he/she/it was before, as man is. But we don't stress it. Or we don't teach it. Or whatever.
Omniscienting - one of his/her/its nonexisting and/or self-conflicting attribute.

Here is a psalm inspired by Your God:

Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.

Our five "little ones" are all older than 30. In the next generation we have many really little who are eligible to dash against ...

I don't want to destroy my day with citing more.

The Psalmist was wrong and not speaking for God but verses like that teach a very valuable lesson about what sin does to people.

Crimes are committed in the name of God throughout the Old Testament. The most poignant of those to me is the story of the execution of Saul's grandchildren so the climate would improve. You can find the same kind of things in the Book of Mormon. I think they are there as a warning. A warning of what you might become if belief in God becomes a justification for your actions instead of God directing you in your actions.

[_Mercury]

I think I would go mad (okay, madder) if I tried to live the Gospel out of fear. It sounds very tiring.

I prefer loving God and wanting to be closer to him.

A loving god. That is a laughable, childish view.

[_The Nehor]

I think I would go mad (okay, madder) if I tried to live the Gospel out of fear. It sounds very tiring.

I prefer loving God and wanting to be closer to him.

A loving god. That is a laughable, childish view.

I imagine then that thinking that you have a loving parent is also a laughable, childish view.

[_Mercury]

I think I would go mad (okay, madder) if I tried to live the Gospel out of fear. It sounds very tiring.

I prefer loving God and wanting to be closer to him.

A loving god. That is a laughable, childish view.

I imagine then that thinking that you have a loving parent is also a laughable, childish view.

No, it is not. I have actually seen my parents. When was the last time you "saw" god?

[_The Nehor]

No, it is not. I have actually seen my parents. When was the last time you "saw" god?

A couple of years ago. We've talked a lot since though.